Free AI workshops return for Welsh tourism businesses after strong start in Swansea. Tourism and hospitality businesses across Wales are being invited to get to grips with artificial intelligence, as a second wave of free AI workshops gets under way this summer.
The sessions follow a well-received first programme earlier this year, which kicked off in Swansea and gave local tourism operators a first-hand look at how AI tools can shape the way visitors search for, discover and book their holidays.
A further 14 workshops are now planned across the country, starting in Newtown on July 14, with stops at venues from Aberystwyth to Hay on Wye over the coming months. Closer to home, sessions are also taking place at Y Cwt at Longacre Farm in Barry on October 7 and at Moody Meadows near Aberaeron on September 10, putting the training within easy reach for businesses across South and West Wales.
Funded by the Welsh Government and run by Mid Wales Tourism (MWT Cymru) on behalf of Visit Wales, the workshops are aimed at helping businesses understand how AI is already reshaping the way people plan trips, rather than getting bogged down in the technology itself.
Zoe Hawkins, chief executive of MWT Cymru, said the shift in visitor behaviour was one of the biggest seen since travellers moved from brochures to the internet. She said people are increasingly turning to AI tools to ask questions, explore destinations and plan their holidays, and that businesses need to understand how this is changing the way customers find them online.
The first round of workshops, which began in Swansea, gave attendees practical, hands on guidance rather than theory. Businesses left with ideas for creating marketing content, sprucing up their websites, strengthening their Google and Visit Wales listings, responding to customer enquiries more efficiently and generally saving time on day to day tasks.
One success story to come out of the original programme is Stables Wellbeing near Llandeilo. Owner Philip Russell began using AI across the business after attending a workshop, from writing newsletters and seasonal content to planning retreats and updating the website. Within eight weeks, the business had seen a 25 per cent rise in website visits, a 122 per cent jump in organic search traffic and a 77 per cent increase in referrals driven by AI.
Philip said the appeal was that the workshops were accessible to everyone, regardless of technical know how. He said attendees could make real improvements on the spot and left with a clear action plan and a sense of priority for what to tackle first.
Each session also includes an optional afternoon Action Lab, where businesses can work alongside the delivery team to put their new skills into practice before they leave.
Full details of dates, venues and booking are available at industry.visitwales.com. Places are free, but booking is esssential.
Image
Businesspeople at the original Swansea AI workshop, the launch event for the first round of the programme.
…
Looking for marketing and PR for your travel or hospitality business?
Good Life publishes over thirty websites across the UK and publishes the highly respected Travel Life magazine. Get in touch and find out how we can help you turbo charge your business.
…
